Citizen Science projects

David Pescovitz 9:14 am Wed May 11, 2011

Featured-Stories Citizensciencepov

Over at Intel's Life Scoop site, I posted about several fascinating citizen science projects, from a photo app to monitor Redwood trees to a mobile platform enabling anyone to participate in field biology research. From my intro:

In 1900, the National Audubon Society invited amateur birdwatchers to count the birds they saw on Christmas. Still an annual event, the Christmas Bird Count, a census of birds in the Western Hemisphere, is probably the longest-running large-scale citizen science experiment in history. The phrase "citizen science" is used to describe projects in which individuals volunteer their minds, or as is often the case these days, their microprocessors, to tackle big scientific challenges. Here are a few citizen science projects online that aren't just opportunities to contribute to the greater good of scientific research. They're also surefire ways to spark your sense of wonder in your world.

"Citizen Science: Feed Your Curiosity"

Possible sign of life on Venus

Astronomers reported today that they've detected phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus, a possible biosignature of life on the planet. The researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of… READ THE REST
Startling, beautiful, and weird close-up images of our Sun

Using Europe's largest solar telescope, GREGOR, researchers captured these incredible images of details on the surface of the sun. Above is a sunspot while the image below "reveals intricate structures… READ THE REST
Programmable, 3D-printed fabric that can "remember" its original shape and transform into new ones

Imagine that your jacket changes shape depending on the temperature or your socks can provide additional support with the push of a button. Harvard engineers created a new material using… READ THE REST
Short Post, just one paragraph

Dessert cheesecake wafer bear claw fruitcake. Fruitcake chupa chups donut candy canes marzipan. Apple pie sweet roll tart chocolate cake macaroon marshmallow carrot cake gummi bears sweet. Pastry sugar plum… READ THE REST
Save 50% on a 1-year subscription to Dashlane's premium password manager

We all know vital information about ourselves and our private digital accounts can be compromised by cybercriminals. However, many would be frightened to know just how compromised they and their… READ THE REST
The Bite Helper removes the itch of a mosquito bite in seconds

While mosquitoes have certainly earned their title as the deadliest animal on earth, their impact on most of our lives is usually a lot less consequential. But even though they… READ THE REST